President Donald Trump plans to announce that the United States government will begin referring to the “Persian Gulf” as the “Arabian Gulf,” according to an Associated Press report citing two unnamed United States officials.
Trump is expected to announce the change next week during a visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates — the second foreign trip of his second term.
The Persian Gulf, located north of the Arabian Sea, borders Gulf states such as Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. Iraq also shares a short coastline of about 36 miles. Many Gulf States already refer to the area as the Gulf of Arabia and have pushed for other states to do so as well, in a bid to assert regional influence.
Iran has long opposed renaming the body of water, and its foreign minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, accused Trump’s supposed change of being “politically motivated.”
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Iran, which was historically known as Persia, has the longest stretch of coastline along the Persian Gulf — a name that has been widely used since the 16th century.
“Politically motivated attempts to alter the historically established name of the Persian Gulf are indicative of hostile intent toward Iran and its people, and are firmly condemned,” Abbas Araghchi posted to X. “Such biased actions are an affront to all Iranians, regardless of their background or place of residence.”
Araghchi added that Iran has not opposed other bodies of water in the Middle East from being named after other countries.
“The use of these names does not imply ownership by any particular nation, but rather reflects a shared respect for the collective heritage of humanity,” he wrote.
Araghchi added that the change will “bring the wrath of all Iranians from all walks of life and political persuasion in Iran, the U.S. and across the world.”
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The spat comes as the Trump administration is expected to head into its third round of negotiations with Iran this weekend in an effort to prevent the regime from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
During Trump’s first term in 2017, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Trump should “study geography” after the president used the term Arabian Gulf.
“Everyone knew Trump’s friendship was for sale to the highest bidder. We now know that his geography is, too,” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif posted at the time.
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In 2012, Iran threatened to sue Google over not labeling the Persian Gulf on its maps, according to the AP. Currently, Google Maps shows the gulf referred to as “Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf).”
The change would mark the second time Trump has directed the United States government to adopt a new name for a body of water, following his earlier decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America.”
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President Donald Trump plans to announce that the United States government will begin referring to the “Persian Gulf” as the “Arabian Gulf,” according to an Associated Press report citing two unnamed United States officials.
Trump is expected to announce the change next week during a visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates — the second foreign trip of his second term.
The Persian Gulf, located north of the Arabian Sea, borders Gulf states such as Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. Iraq also shares a short coastline of about 36 miles. Many Gulf States already refer to the area as the Gulf of Arabia and have pushed for other states to do so as well, in a bid to assert regional influence.
Iran has long opposed renaming the body of water, and its foreign minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, accused Trump’s supposed change of being “politically motivated.”
HOW TRUMP AND RUBIO PUT AMERICA FIRST IN 100 DAYS
Iran, which was historically known as Persia, has the longest stretch of coastline along the Persian Gulf — a name that has been widely used since the 16th century.
“Politically motivated attempts to alter the historically established name of the Persian Gulf are indicative of hostile intent toward Iran and its people, and are firmly condemned,” Abbas Araghchi posted to X. “Such biased actions are an affront to all Iranians, regardless of their background or place of residence.”
Araghchi added that Iran has not opposed other bodies of water in the Middle East from being named after other countries.
“The use of these names does not imply ownership by any particular nation, but rather reflects a shared respect for the collective heritage of humanity,” he wrote.
Araghchi added that the change will “bring the wrath of all Iranians from all walks of life and political persuasion in Iran, the U.S. and across the world.”
TRUMP TO WORLD: STOP BUYING IRANIAN OIL — OR ELSE
The spat comes as the Trump administration is expected to head into its third round of negotiations with Iran this weekend in an effort to prevent the regime from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
During Trump’s first term in 2017, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Trump should “study geography” after the president used the term Arabian Gulf.
“Everyone knew Trump’s friendship was for sale to the highest bidder. We now know that his geography is, too,” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif posted at the time.
‘YOU WILL PAY THE CONSEQUENCE’: PETE HEGSETH WARNS IRAN OVER LETHAL SUPPORT TO HOUTHS
In 2012, Iran threatened to sue Google over not labeling the Persian Gulf on its maps, according to the AP. Currently, Google Maps shows the gulf referred to as “Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf).”
The change would mark the second time Trump has directed the United States government to adopt a new name for a body of water, following his earlier decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America.”
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